The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-17
THE LEATuERwoop GOD.
Remarkable Career of Joseph DyIks,
Who Claims to be the Almighty.
From the Cfncinnati TYmes-Star,

From the Cincinnati TSnaes-Stor,
The settlement on Leatherwood creek, O.,
began near Salesville in 1906 The early
settlers were religious but varied in their
sects, differing from most early settlements.
which were generally attached to one re-
lig1ouS creed. There were Methodists, United
Brethren, Presbyterians, ETC., among the
Leatherwood settlers, but all embraced the
religion OF Jesus Christ in one form or other
and therefore in 1915 erected temple on
the hill overlooking Salesville. No regular
pastor was employed and the members were
constant preachers by selection or
volition. 1t was temple for the wor-
ship of all denominations and soon enough
from this building there proceeded an in
fiuence which created with the advance of
emigration to Ohio several religious circuits
and many more churches some of them be-
ing UNCONVENTIONAL. But in August, 1925
there was a religious revolution in the COM
munity. One Sunday during the camp
meeting season, Rev. John Crum was
giving United Brethren sermon. In the
midst of it, when the congregation was In
tears and silence, a loud voice shouted,
Salvation
i The shout came like crashing peal of
thunder. 1t was followed by snort of a
peculiar character, or, as some who heard
it, said, Like the snort of a frightened
horse" All this came from a stranger
seated like statue among the people whom
he had astonlshed The preacher stopped.
The people stared. The snorting shouter of
salvation was stranger. His face was fair
and melancholy, even to the wishes of a
poet. Long, raven locks were combed back
from a broad, low forehead, and fell upon
his broad shoulders like the hair of an In
dian scout His beaver hat and broad 10th
suit assisted to make him a remarkable
figure in this community where home spun
material was universal. He said nothing
during the discourse which he had inter-
rupted, and winch the preacher concluded
under difficulties. This man was Joseph G.
Dylks. He became the hero of general
curiosity. He was clever impoStor, and
by maintaining gravity and mystery began
his scheme OF playing God.
He lived without expense for many weeks
among the nelghbors, who began to worship
him as mystical being.
He joined IN the meetings by contributing
his shouts OF salvation and has peculiar snort.
which is described as athrilling sound, caus-
ing sensation ike that when greatly
scared in the da; k.
Dylks used but one hymn IN his meet
ngs-
Plunged in gulf of deep despair
We wretched sinners lay"
He prayed not long but with sententious
effect
His sermons were short and simple To
his friends in private he deigned to reveal
himself as a god, saying that he had come
into the congregation in his spiritual form,
but had taken on mortality, clothes and all,
and had chosen to set up his kingdom, ON
the millennium style, right here on Leather
wood creek. To the credulous creek farm
ers Dylks imposed tale of his remarkable
heritage both of heaven and earth, and de-
clared that no one could touch him without
permission-not hair on his head could be
taken from him, although he had plenty to
spare. with one shout and one snort can
snuff out the universe as you snuff out a
candle" said the impostor, and the foolish
people believed him.
Michael Brill, Robert Mccormick and
John Brill believed in the rascal more fully
than their neighbors. Mccormick was a
sort of preacher and took Dylks along on a
gospel tour. After this trip Mccormick
told startling story Of supernatural ap-
pearances during the journey He saw a
halo around the head of Dylks, and in the
midst of hot day, Mccormick suddenly
became cold.
you are Paul, the Apostle, said Dylks
''Meddle again in mems affairs, said the
lmpostor. The perfect work is done, he
concluded, and then he gave up his snort
and shout With this nonsense the two
came back and converted the community to
Dylks as the Messiah. Two men stood
against this fanaticism, George Brill and
James Foreacre, an ancestral relative of our
Ohio Governor. They protested against the
1mpostor and without avail. The Dylksites
captured the Temple, and in it the Leather
wood God proclaimed: 81 am God and the
Christ united. anne, Father, Son and Holy
Ghost are met. There is no salvation for
men save IN me. Those who trust In me
shall never die but be translated.
Then the converts shouted: 1--WE shall
never die" There was tumult and scene
approaching riot, for some sensible folks
were disguised with blasphemy. Behold
our God" said Mccormick, and the weaker
brethren all fell down and worshiped the
pretender The skeptical demanded mira
Gle. Dylks promised to make seamless
garment if the cloth was furnished. Mrs
Prlley believed in Dylks, and secretly
brought the cloth, which Dylks never con-
verted into suit, and his failure was the be-
ginning of his downfall.
Once later on Mccormick remarked: 81
shall never see corruption. Mr.. Brill, you
cannot shoot me-" Brill was hereto and
Jumped for his rife, but Mccormick begged
off, preacher named Biggs had the cour-
age to condemn the imposition, and had a
riot at the temple for calling the Dylks' fever
"a fal lal lal.n
He is my God" exclaimed the Dylkeites